The 14th edition of the India–Singapore Joint Military Exercise, Bold Kurukshetra 2025, began in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. First conducted in 2005, this exercise is a Table Top Exercise (TTX) and Computer-Based Wargame focused on validating mechanised warfare procedures. It aims to enhance interoperability, tactical coordination, and joint operational planning between the Indian Army and the Singapore Armed Forces under the framework of a United Nations mandate. This cooperation plays a pivotal role in reinforcing India–Singapore defence ties, especially in the context of regional stability and Indo-Pacific security.
The India–Singapore defence relationship is rooted in the Defence Cooperation Agreement (2003), renewed in 2015, and includes multiple engagements across the army, navy, and air force. Singapore also provides training areas to Indian forces such as Babina and Deolali, highlighting the strategic depth of the partnership. The Bold Kurukshetra exercise complements naval initiatives like SIMBEX—India’s longest uninterrupted bilateral naval exercise, which began in 1994 as Exercise Lion King. Through these exercises, both nations strengthen military preparedness, enhance peacekeeping capabilities, and contribute to maintaining a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.
Bold Kurukshetra also serves India’s larger Act East Policy, as Singapore remains a key strategic and economic partner in Southeast Asia. It helps both countries simulate real-world combat conditions, improve command-level coordination, and practice multi-domain operational synergy, especially in UN peacekeeping missions. The 2025 edition thus not only reinforces bilateral defence ties but also contributes to broader regional security cooperation in line with India’s strategic objectives.
